During the war in Gaza, significant quantities of weapons and ammunition were stolen from various Israeli troop assembly points in the southern region of the country.
These included disposable LAW shoulder-mounted anti-tank grenade launchers, mortar shells, and advanced defense systems. Additionally, weapons have gone missing from the battlefield only to resurface on the black market.
ITV Channel 11 reported details provided by the headquarters of the Southern Military District regarding the types of stolen weapons and ammunition. The list includes 33,740 cartridges for MAG machine guns, 14,650 5.56 caliber cartridges, 315 mines, 79 mortar shells, 3 LAU missiles, 9 120mm caliber shells, and two advanced infantry defense systems.
While some of the stolen items have been recovered, a significant quantity remains in the hands of criminals. This unexpected influx of weaponry into the criminal underworld has led to a sharp drop in prices on the black market. For instance, the price of a fragmentation grenade, which previously sold for 6,000 shekels before the war, has plummeted to just a few hundred shekels.
Law enforcement regularly announces the discovery of weapons and ammunition linked to various criminal entities. The IDF emphasizes its commitment to investigating every theft, with the military police stepping in when criminal suspicions arise.
